Ribbon Cutting Held For Soscol Junction Project In Napa County

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Caltrans and the Napa Valley Transportation Authority hosted a ribbon cutting Friday at The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa for the State Route 29/221 Soscol Junction Interchange Project in southern Napa County.

The three-year, $56.7 million project replaces the signalized intersection of State Route 29, State Route 221 and Soscol Ferry Road with an interchange composed of an overpass and two roundabouts, a configuration that will add fluidity to traffic flow and reduce congestion.

This accounts for two decades of planning. The Project also includes a class I facility to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians through the intersection.

"As a Napa native, I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years and I’m excited about these long overdue improvements to Soscol Junction,” said California state Sen. Bill Dodd. "With the added bike lane and pedestrian access, this new interchange will serve as a gateway for ease of travel through Napa County."

The project received $19.3 million from the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program and $422 thousand from Local Partnership Program, both created and funded by the Road Repair Accountability Act of 2017, also known as Senate Bill 1.

Unlike a typical interchange with an elevated overpass where motorists make inter-route connections, most motorists at Soscol Junction will make connections at surface level on roundabouts, which will be hardscaped using the colors of the encompassing area.

Caltrans landscaped the area with local plants, including oaks whose canopies will visually screen the interchange from distant onlookers.

In addition to SB1 funding, the project is funded with $33.2 million in State and regional funds $3.7 million in local funds.

"Soscol Junction offers a simple yet practical solution to traffic congestion with roundabouts that keep the traffic moving smoothly and safely without signal lights and stop signs that cause delays," said U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson.

Soscol Junction is at the base of Napa County and serves as an entryway. Napa County has experienced outsized job growth over the decades but lacks housing to accommodate a large workforce. As such, workers drive to Napa County from elsewhere, creating backups at Soscol Junction, where major routes converge.

"The Soscol Junction project will be a game changer for access to downtown Napa, and the rest of picturesque Napa Valley," said Mark Joseph, board chair of the Napa Valley Transportation Authority. "Thousands of commuters, residents and visitors will be saved from hours of sitting in highway traffic, thanks to these interchange improvements. And the addition of the multimodal path improves safety and access for bicyclists and pedestrians, and it will eventually connect to our beautiful Napa Valley Vine Trail."

In an area with increased traffic yet barren of pedestrian and cycling facilities, Caltrans will build 1,200 feet of Class I bicycle and pedestrian paths. Eventually the bicycle/pedestrian lanes will connect to the Vine Trail, a 47-mile multi-use path from Calistoga to the ferry terminal in Vallejo.

"Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will all benefit from the new design," said Dina El Tawansy, Caltrans Bay Area District Director. "This interchange is a great example of what can be created when the transportation community and local groups work together. Caltrans values its partnership with the Napa Valley Transportation Authority and the community in producing this new infrastructure that will serve the community well for years to come."

Ghilotti Construction is the contractor for the project.

See the Soscol Junction Project webpage.